Manager, Financial Planning and Analysis

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

Are you looking for a fantastic career? We have an exciting opportunity for a Planning Manager. The Planning Manager has a significant role in the follow annual activities; financial business intelligence system / data base "owner", five year strategic plan, annual budget, monthly forecasts, executive compensation and proxy.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Create and publish bottoms up monthly forecasting environment by State / Entity to better predict future results for Essential Utilities, Inc. Challenge state controllers to create better / more comprehensive monthly forecasts.

Responsible for regular monthly forecasts of results (EPS) for each remaining quarter and analysis of forecasts vs. First Call consensus estimates.

Coordinate the details of the annual budgeting process and aggregate and manage all incoming data for accuracy and validity.

• Develop the timetable, assumptions, prepare, administer, and supervise annual operating, cash, shares and options budgets and forecasts.
• Evaluate operating and financial expectations and needs as they relate to the budget process and make recommendations to management and implement procedures accordingly. Leads corporation's strategic planning process including full responsibility for the preparation of the five-year plan.
• The successful incumbent will perform a significant role in the Annual Proxy filing by preparing the financial compensation schedules for the Proxy filing.
• They will prepare periodic Company Factor attainment for Annual Bonus tracking as well prepares final Company Factors for use in the Annual Management Bonus Award and payment. Perform control checks and review to ensure proper and timely payments are made in March.
• Administer SAC for the Finance Department engaging in Finance for the Future approach while driving both the automation of our activities creating efficiencies within the Finance organization, Operations organization and Supply Chain organization.
• Maintains complete responsibility for functionality and operations of SAC, including acting as liaison with and between vendor, trainers, IS and users.
• Assists in development of key management team objectives (financial) and monitors throughout year, reporting find results at year end for consideration in the management team member bonus calculation.
• Analyze budget variances and prepare various reports to the board and others.
• Coordinate efficient interfaces with Treasury, Rates, Tax, Corporate, Human Resources and all operating divisions to ensure comprehensive planning and budgeting.
• Develop and maintain policy and procedures for the planning/ budgeting area.
• Maintain at a current vendor software release level the Company's Financial Planning Software to meet the organizations' structure and financial analysis needs.
• Prepare all Financial Schedules for Essential Utilities Inc. annual proxy filing to the SEC.
• Lead process improvement initiatives to create a uniform financial platform to enable better analysis and to identify cost reduction opportunities for FPA and Finance Department generally.
• Monthly participation in state Operations / Financial reviews.
• Support Aqua management in providing financial analysis to support union labor negotiations.
• Preparation of finance Board presentations throughout the year including Power Point presentations.
• Perform multi-year cash forecasting models and work with Treasurer to design debt borrowing and equity plans for Essential Utilities, Inc.
• Assists with other tasks or projects as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS (Required Experience, Education, Licenses, and Certifications)

• Bachelor's Degree, advanced degree preferred, in Finance or Accounting
• Minimum of five years' experience in financial or budgetary analysis.
• MBA, CPA or CFA desirable and will be considered in lieu of five years of experience.
• Proficient in use of PC, spreadsheet, and database software.
• Experience with SAP and SAC strongly preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: (Examples below)

• Proficient in use of PC, spreadsheet, and database software.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills; communicate effectively (clearly, concisely and professionally) with internal customers.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A team player able to work effectively in a team fostered multi-tasking environment

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Perform sedentary work- exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time
• See, hear, talk, and perform tasks requiring manual dexterity.
• Operate standard office equipment.
• Working conditions may include travel to work sites of Essential Utilities and/or other constituents (if applicable)
• Travel Requirements up to 20% (for overnight travel is required)

Essential Utilities, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Essential Utilities is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.